Truss wheel on Music Man won't turn.

[niki z]

Hello,

Realized I needed to set more relief on my classic Sting Ray (new version) and the wheel was extremely hard to turn. It actually started bending the screwdriver, so I quit. After it sat in the case overnight it seems to have helped, but does anyone know what's going on here? I've seen a couple of these threads on the net, but never find a resolution.

- I was turning the wheel the correct way, this is my third Music Man. I've never encountered this before, and my other Sting Rays were years older.

Any other Ray users have this problem? Please note again I'm talking about loosening and not tightening. Getting tough to turn for tightening I can understand.

Thanks.

 

[bholder]

Did you try flexing the neck a bit to help it along first? Some truss aren't meant so much to move the neck as to hold it where it's set. I like to give it a little "stretch" to help the truss rod move.

You were loosening it, correct?"

 

[mikeswals]

Are you sure you weren't inserting the screwdriver too far thru the spoke making it jab into the neck pocket cavity?

 

[jazz Bass 74]

It's possible there might be some dirt or other debris that could be lodged between the adjustment wheel and the end of the fingerboard. You could try taking a soft brush, like an old toothbrush, and cleaning the area around the wheel.

 

[niki z]

Thanks for all the help!

Tried the "stretch" and took a brush, and not sure what it was, but now it's turning! I had not tried turning it today, so maybe it just needed to set for a night. I was worried the truss rod was done for. I bought this in a pawn shop basically brand new. It still had the plastic on it, and not one scratch.

Posted a couple crappy iPhone pics. This was always my favorite color combo, so when I saw it, I put money the down. The neck figuring is beautiful, but I must admit I HATE the slab body. Never thought that would make a difference, but we will see once I can get this to a gig. The Ray 5 seems to always make it because of the lower notes songs have now.

Thanks again.

 

[Grooveline]

Very nice flaming in the neck. I've heard others express their disapproval of the slab body but imo the edges of the bass are rounded enough to not be uncomfortable to me at all.

 

[Rickenbottom]

When I first got my Classic the truss rod wheel was very stiff initially but after a couple of turns losened up and now it's perfect..I think it's possible a little debris could have caused it .BTW...very nice classic you have there...

 

[niki z]

When I first got my Classic the truss rod wheel was very stiff initially but after a couple of turns losened up and now it's perfect..I think it's possible a little debris could have caused it .BTW...very nice classic you have there...

Yea it's possible there was debris, I'm just glad it started to turn. Once it started to bend the screwdriver I started getting scared. Experience has let me know to just put it away at that point and wait a couple days, because it did turn a little.

Thanks for the compliment on the ax. BTW, do you know if all the new "classics" have larger necks? After playing this more, I realize it's thicker (front to fretboard) than my Ray 5. It also seems bigger than the 3 band I had prior that I sold to buy this one.

 

[mikeswals]

The neck thicknesses are all over the place because the final shaping is finished by hand. I had a Classic that had a thick neck that turned me off, but I tried others in stores that were way slimmer. Same with various standard Rays I've owned.